Volunteer at the Cathedral Center Overflow Shelter

BPC is scheduled to help at the Cathedral Center Overflow Shelter on Sunday, August 8th. Volunteers can meet at church to carpool to the Shelter.There they will assist shelter staff, provide a healthy snack and make sandwiches for the next day.Volunteers are reimbursed from the mission budget for the cost of the snacks. Please talk with Mission Committee Chair, Bruce Bush about helping the homeless women and children needing a warm, hospitable place to stay.

Thank You to the Milwaukee Presbytery

In a weekly e-news from the Presbytery office, we received information about the released PC(USA) report: “A Giving Report of the Top Ten Presbyteries for 2009.” The Presbytery of Milwaukee is named in three of eight categories. We give thanks to God for our ability to be a part of a faith community that continues to make a difference in peoples lives. We give thanks to God for all congregational members in the Presbytery of Milwaukee (and all presbyteries); their generosity has greatly impacted peoples lives in the name of Jesus Christ. Some information is provided here. If you are interested in further information you can access the full report at:

http://pcusa.org/media/uploads/common/pdf/top-ten-2009_booklet.pdf

Pick ‘n Save Metro Market Card Change

Effective July, 2010 Pick ‘n Save and Metro Market will no longer honor the old Pick ‘n Save Advantage Plus Card.  Please stop at the service desk to obtain a new Roundy’s Rewards Card giving Brookfield Presbyterian Church a percentage of your purchases.  The money the Women’s Association receives is divided equally, and given to the Waukesha Food Pantry and The Women’s Center (a shelter for women and children in Waukesha).  In 2009 we received $339, and to date in 2010 – $149.  Please help to make your purchases count.  Thank you.   If you have questions about this program, please talk with Peggy Waterman.

Weed Workers

Have you noticed that outdoor areas around the church need some attention?  Could you share some time to help weed the flower beds?  No scheduled work day is necessary, just drop by, and spend as much time as you are able, cleaning out the weeds sprouting up in the flower beds.  Please add your name to the sign up sheet posted on the office window, indicating the area you will be or have worked on.  The Property Committee and your church family thanks you!

The Waukesha Food Pantry Needs Our Help

5,618 requested aid last month.

When grocery shopping for your family, remember the Pantry and pick up extra non-perishable items and bring them to the shelves at the west entrance of church.

The Pantry shelves are becoming bare and donations are needed more than ever. Needy families struggle even more in the summer months, as children are home and not receiving school lunches.

Suggested items include:

· Canned fruit
· Cereal
· Tuna
· Canned meat (chicken, ham, Spam)
· Meal items with meat (stews, ravioli, dinners, etc.)
· Soup
· Peanut Butter
· Canned Vegetables
· Macaroni & Cheese

ANY and ALL donations are needed and appreciated!

Fill our empty shelves to fill theirs!

Love God, Love Your Neighbor

BPC Mission Project – Waukesha Food Pantry – April/May 2010 Focus

Special focus for April & May:

• Diapers (which food stamps do not cover)
• Baby formula (regular and soy-based) particularly Good Start formula

Please remember these items when you are shopping and bring them to church each Sunday.

Place your donations on the table set up in the narthex.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

2010 Pentecost Offering for Children at Risk, Youth and Young Adults

I will sing praises to my God all my life long.” Psalm 146:2

Do you remember how it felt to be a child, a teenager, or a young adult just starting out on your lifelong journey?  Everything was a wonderful adventure!  Songs of praise to God flow naturally from the lips of children.  If only we could tap once more into that seemingly endless supply of vitality, faith, and joy that young people possess.  Well, we can!  We can spend time with children and help with the BLAST program; we can mentor youth and support young adults in their endeavors.  When we focus our time and attention on young people, we get everything we give back a hundred-fold.  It is truly God’s spirit at work.  A meaningful way we can engage with children and youth is through our gifts to the Pentecost Offering.

• 40% of the Offering will help Penfield Children’s Center serve young children with special needs
• The Offering support a new generation of leadership for the church through the Young Adult Volunteer Program.  Over 25% of these young adults go on to serve as elders, mission workers, seminary professors or pastors – the people who will shape our church in the future.
• Pentecost Offering funds were used to create www.365.org, an engaging online devotion written for youth.  It is offered free of charge and is timely theologically thoughtful, and diverse.  And it lives where young people live – online!

Your gifts to this special offering will be received on Pentecost Sunday, May 23^rd.  Envelopes may be found in your contribution envelope boxes, and beginning in May, may be found in the pews.

Build Sandwiches for Habitat Builders!

BPC continues its involvement with Habitat for Humanity, financially and with hands-on support. Again this year we will be helping feed Habitat workers during their May Blitz Week.10 volunteers are needed to make 12 sandwiches for their lunches. Be creative as you wish: Buns, rolls, bread — ham, turkey, beef, cheese, hot dogs, etc. (Onions on the side in a baggy, please!) Sandwiches are to be individually wrapped and brought to church by 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, May 9th. Add your name to the sign up poster in the narthex. If you need more info about this mission outreach, talk with Bruce Bush, Mission Chair. Let’s help those helping others!

One Great Hour of Sharing – “Do You Love Me? Feed My Sheep”

Thank you for your gifts to OGHS, this year totaling $1,346.00. These donations will fund the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Program and the Self-Development of People.

All Church Work Day – April 24, 2010

The Property Committee has scheduled a spring cleanup day for Saturday April 24th. Note the date on your calendars and plan to help. Meet at church at 9:00 a.m. to tackle indoor and outdoor spring cleaning projects. Bring supplies to handle a variety of tasks. Please join church friends in caring for our church home. For more information, contact Jason Weber.

“Whatever your task put yourself into it, as done for the Lord.” Colossians 3:23

One Great Hour of Sharing – “Do You Love Me?”

“One of the strengths as Presbyterians lies in sharing what we have with others, a discipline that for more than 6 decades Presbyterians have exercised through One Great Hour of Sharing. This year’s theme is drawn from Jesus’ last encounter with his disciples and highlights the message he leaves them – to focus not on one’s own needs but on those of others. “Do you love me?” he asks three times. Three times he repeats a variation of the instruction, “Feed my sheep.” Your contributions to OGHS support the Presbyterian Hunger Program, the Self-Development of People, and especially needed at this time, the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.

Through your gifts and the gifts of other congregations across the church, the One Great Hour of Sharing offering will continue to be a reminder that through the simple act of sharing, we are blessed and experience God’s abundance in surprising ways.” Sara P. Lisherness, Director, Compassion, Peace, and Justice PCUSA

The OGHS offering will be received on Palm Sunday, March 28th. “Sharing resources, Changing Lives – Together we can make a world of difference.”

A “Shout Out” for the Waukesha Food Pantry

Our mission focus for the month of March is the Waukesha Food Pantry, especially Infant and Toddler needs.  When shopping for your family, please remember the families served by the Food Pantry and purchase some baby formula and/or diapers.  Many of their clients have very small children and need diapers, which food stamps do not cover.  Also needed is baby formula (regular and soy-based) especially Good Start formula.  Bring your donations each Sunday in March and show your care for God’s littlest ones.

All Star Recognition for Officer Krahn

Please vote for Officer John Krahn as the All Star on America’s Most Wanted TV show. Officer Krahn is the police officer who helped our church members, the Partenfelders when their van was hit by a train on Memorial Day, 2009. We would love to see him receive this All Star award and receive national recognition. You can vote once per day up until April 4th. Thank you

Presbyterian Women of BPC

Thank you to all participating in Roundy’s Pick ‘n Save Advantage Plus Savers Club.  Brookfield Presbyterian Church received $317.58 in 2009 which was equally disbursed to the Women’s Center, Inc. and the Waukesha Food Pantry.  If you would like to help the church receive funds, please stop at the service desk at Pick ‘n Save and fill out a form.  Our charity code number is 075200.

In February the Women’s Association will begin to collect pledges for 2010.  (Expenses exceeded $700 in 2009.)

Friday Morning Volunteers

For many, many years, Dorothy Jaeger and Barbara Perrigo have faithfully served the church by spending a portion of their Friday mornings stuffing bulletins, answering any calls, and checking the answering machine.  They are now retiring from this volunteer position, and they have our sincere appreciation and gratitude.   They have been invaluable!

We now have openings for Friday help.  If you have some time to share, and if we hear from several of you, this could be a “job-sharing” opportunity.  Please call the church office to let us know you are interested, or want to know more.

Christmas Joy Offering – “What Child Is This”

Thank you for your generous gifts, this year totaling: $1,177.00. Presbyterians have long celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ by giving generously to the Christmas Joy Offering. This offering dates back to the 1930’s to supplement retirement income for former minister, missionaries, church workers, and their families. Through the years its focus has come to include racial ethnic education. 50% of your gifts are distributed to the Board of Pensions of the PCUSA for Assistance Programs for current and retired servants of the church. The other 50% are distributed to the 8 racial ethnic schools and colleges of the PCUSA through the National Ministries Division to assist deserving students.

Give. Act. Pray.

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) has issued an emergency appeal for Haiti, where millions of people have been affected by a major earthquake that struck the country on Tuesday, January 12. The exact number of casualties is unknown at this time, nor is the full extent of the damage; however, reports indicate that tens of thousands — possibly hundreds of thousands — of people are feared dead and countless others have been left homeless.

PDA is rushing an initial $100,000 from One Great Hour of Sharing and designated funds to help provide immediate emergency relief to the affected people.  Funds are being sent through our ecumenical and local partners working in Haiti.

For updates on the earthquake, the church’s response and how you can help, please visit the PDA Web site.

2009 Poinsettia Fund Donation Form

The Worship Committee has decided to decorate the sanctuary with extra large poinsettia plants this Advent season.  You may donate any amount toward the poinsettia fund.  The form below should be used to designate ‘in honor’ or ‘in memory’ as you wish.  The plants will then be delivered to several shut-ins and/or care facilities.

Your name:___________________________________________________________________

Given in memory of:____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Given in honor of:______________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

Donation amount:____________________________

Order deadline is Sunday, December 13^th. Payment must accompany your order.  Please place this form and payment in the box on the counter in the church office.

Christmas Joy Offering – “What Child Is This”

Presbyterians have long celebrated the birth of Jesus Christ by giving generously to the Christmas Joy Offering.  This offering dates back to the 1930’s to supplement retirement income for former minister, missionaries, church workers, and their families.  Through the years its focus has come to include racial ethnic education.  50% of your gifts are distributed to the Board of Pensions of the PCUSA for Assistance Programs for current and retired servants of the church.  The other 50% are distributed to the 8 racial ethnic schools and colleges of the PCUSA through the National Ministries Division to assist deserving students.  Special offering envelopes can be found in your contribution envelope boxes and in the pews.  Your donations will be received December 20^th.

2009 Thank Offering – Rejoice with Thanksgiving!

For over 120 years women in the Presbyterian Church have given to the Thank Offering in thanks to God, making a difference to many.  27 projects were selected for the 2008 offering totaling $684,000.  Criteria for the grants include meeting basic human needs, providing aid relating directly to people being served, and that it be a creative project less than three years old, or a new direction for an existing program.  40% goes to health related projects.  Five of the 2008 grants went to Williamsburg, VA for a Christian Outreach Center for services to meet daily needs of low income people, the elderly and at-risk residents;  to Wichita, KS to a rescue mission for the homeless;  to Craig, AK to build a safe island community providing safety, support and advocacy for people who have experienced personal or domestic violence;  to Malawi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to deliver basic medicines and medical supplies to Presbyterian hospitals;  and to Haiti for a cisterns project to improve the economic situation of farmers by providing access to potable water.

Won’t you contribute to the 2009 Thank Offering by using the envelope in your offering box or an envelope in a church pew?  The Thank Offering will be received on November 22.  Thank you.